Russian Embassy in Armenia holds no information about deportation of Armenian political expert Stepan Grigoryan from Russia

ArmInfo. The Russian Embassy in Armenia holds no information about deportation of Armenian political expert Stepan Grigoryan from Russia. "We have received no requests regarding citizen Grigoryan's deportation. As soon as we get any information, we will let you know," the Russian Embassy has told an ArmInfo correspondent.

Stepan Grigoryan, Head of the Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation (ACGRC), said yesterday that on August 30 at 8 am he arrived at Sheremetyevo Airport in Russia but he was unable to enter the territory of Russia because he was detained by Russian border guards due to a ban on travel to Russia until 2030.

"I arrived in Russia to visit one of the Moscow cemeteries, where my father Gevorg Grigoryan was buried in October 2014. I had only 10 hours and on Aug 30 night I was to fly back to Yerevan. I was given a notification, which contained references to the Russian Federal Law "On departure and entry to the Russian Federation," which mostly concerned various kinds of actions of foreign citizens, who violate the law. This has absolutely nothing to do with me, because I have conducted no activities in Russia over the past 20 years. In my case, only Item 9 of Article 26 of that Law (On deportation of foreign citizens who take part in international organizations' activities, which are undesirable in the territory of Russia) was important. It is no secret that the Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation (Armenia) headed by me is actively cooperating with European NGOs, analytical centers and various democratic foundations that support our initiatives. Besides, we do not conceal that we see the future of Armenian people in the European family based on democratic values. It is obvious that the Russian authorities' decision was politically charged," Grigoryan says on his Facebook page.

He also notes that on the same day he was deported from Russia to Armenia. He adds that later it was found out that according to the information posted on the Russian Federal Migration Service's website, now he has the right to travel to Russia.

"On August 30, 2016, I applied to the Armenian Foreign Ministry to protect my rights and I will be waiting for the reply for a few days. Afterwards, I will start my own actions to defend my infringed rights," Grigoryan says. ArmInfo has failed to receive any comment from the Armenian Foreign Ministry.